Disk holder

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for holding a disk-shape data carrier ( 6 ), e.g. a DC or a DVD, having a central aperture, the apparatus comprising a base portion ( 5 ), disk engaging means ( 1, 2, 4 ) for releaseably engaging the central aperture of the data carrier ( 6 ), having retaining means ( 1 ) for engaging and retaining the data carrier ( 6 ) on the apparatus and release means ( 2, 4 ) which, when pressed, releases the engagement of the retaining means ( 1 ) with the data carrier ( 6 ) so the data carrier ( 6 ) can be removed from the apparatus, wherein removable security means ( 7 ) are provided to inhibit actuation of the release means ( 2, 4 ) to prevent release of the data carrier ( 6 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an improved disk holder, and more particularlyto a disk holder with a security device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus for holding a disk-shaped data carrier, such as a CD or DVD,are known. Examples of known apparatus are described in U.S. Pat. No.5,788,068 and WO97/41563 the entire disclosures of which areincorporated herein.

A problem encountered with such known apparatus is the removal and theftof a CD or DVD from the apparatus within a store selling such products.The disk holder is usually provided within a container, which is alsoprovided with a security tag that triggers an alarm if the container istaken out of the store without the tag first being removed or renderedinactive by staff in the store. The container may also be provided witha clear plastic wrapper, which has to be removed before the containercan be opened. However, it has been found that thieves are able to slitthe wrapper along an edge of the container, e.g. the bottom edge,actuate the release mechanism by pressing it through a side wall of thecontainer to release the CD or DVD from the disk holder within thecontainer. They are then able to remove the CD or DVD from the containerby compressing the container so that the side walls bow, forming a gapbetween the two halves thereof, and the CD or DVD can then be slid outthrough the slit made in the wrapper. An experienced thief is able to dothis whilst pretending to examine the product and slip the CD or DVDinto a coat pocket unobserved. The thief can then leave the emptycontainer on the shelf and leave the store with the CD or DVD withouttriggering the alarm system. Other ways of circumventing the security ofknown packages are known.

For this reason, many stores only display empty containers and when acustomer has made a selection, the staff retrieve the relevant CD or DVDfrom a secure cupboard or safe and place it in the container for thecustomer. However, this takes additional time and requires a securestorage place for the CDs and DVDs. It also increases the risk that thewrong CD or DVD may be put in the container, especially if the staff arebusy. There is therefore a desire within the trade to be able to displayCD and DVD containers with the relevant CD or DVD already held therein;such containers are called ‘live’ containers within the trade. It hasbeen shown that the display of ‘live’ containers can increase salessignificantly.

One of the aims of the present invention is thus to improve the securityof a live container housing a disk-shaped data carrier such as a CD orDVD.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedapparatus for holding a disk-shaped data carrier having a centralaperture, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   a base portion;    -   disk engaging means for releasably engaging the central aperture        of a disk-shaped data carrier, the disk engaging means having        retaining means for engaging and retaining the disk-shaped data        carrier on the apparatus;    -   release means for releasing the engagement of the retaining        means with the disk-shaped data carrier so the disk-shaped data        carrier can be removed from the apparatus; and    -   removable security means to inhibit actuation of the release        member and thereby prevent release of the disk-shaped data        carrier from the retaining member.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided asecurity device for use with such apparatus.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided asecurity device for preventing removal of a disk-shaped data carrierhaving a central aperture from a disk holder having disk engaging meansfor releasably engaging the central aperture of the disk-shaped datacarrier, the device comprising one or more parts shaped to fit into oneor more gaps formed between parts of the disk engaging means so as toinhibit actuation thereof.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided apackage for containing or storing a disk-shaped data carrier comprisinga holder having a base portion, disk engaging means on the base portionthe base portion for releasably engaging the disk-shaped data carrier;and a security device that is removably engageable with the diskengaging means.

Preferred and optional features of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description and from the subsidiary claims of thespecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view through a disk engagingmeans for releasably holding a disk.

FIG. 1B shows a first embodiment of a security device according to oneaspect of the invention, which is positioned to inhibit actuation of thedisk engaging means;

FIG. 1C shows a further security device positioned to inhibit actuationof the disk engaging means; and

FIG. 1D shows a modified form of the further a security devicepositioned to inhibit actuation of the disk engaging means. The securitydevice shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D may be used in addition to the securitydevice shown in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view through another form of adisk engaging means for releasably holding a disk;

FIG. 2B shows a second embodiment of a security device according to oneaspect of the invention, which is positioned to inhibit actuation of thedisk engaging means; and

FIG. 2C shows a further security device positioned to inhibit actuationof the disk engaging means.

FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view through a further form ofdisk engaging means for releasably holding a disk;

FIG. 3B shows a third embodiment of a security device according to oneaspect of the invention positioned to inhibit actuation of the diskengaging means; and

FIG. 3C shows a further security device positioned to inhibit actuationof the disk engaging means.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of disk engaging means with a securitydevice similar to that shown in FIG. 1B installed therein.

FIG. 5A is schematic cross-sectional view of disk engaging means similarto that shown in FIG. 1A, having engageably attached thereto a furthersecurity device, which is positioned to inhibit actuation of the diskengaging means through the wall of the container; and

FIG. 5B is a plan view of this security device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Depending on the requirements, the security devices described herein maybe used to provide different levels of security for a live CD or DVDcontainer. In one form, the security device may simply be arranged tomake it more difficult to actuate the disk release mechanism through thewall of the container but can be readily removed when the container isopened. Where a higher level of security is required, the securitydevice may be arranged so that although it is easy to install by slidingit in one direction, it is difficult to slide in the opposite directionand remove without use of a special tool or special equipment. Othervariations of the security device which rely on a mechanism thatinhibits actuation of the disk release mechanism are within the scope ofthe invention.

FIG. 1A and 1B show a device similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,788,068, previously herein incorporated by reference, comprising aretaining member in the form of projections 1 which project radiallyoutwardly from button portions 2, which together form a button-likemember 3. The button portions 2 are mounted at the radially inner endsof arms 4, which are resiliently cantilevered from a base portion 5. Asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,068, when the button-like member 3 ispressed, each button portion 2 and the projection 1 carried therebymoves about an arc approximately centered on the position 4A where thearm is connected to the base portion. As the projection 1 moves aboutthe arc it simultaneously moves radially inwards and downwards towardsthe base portion 5. Whilst moving in this manner, the projections pressdown on the disk 6 adjacent the edge of the central aperture thereof andthus depress the center of disk 6 towards the base portion 5 until theprojections have moved radially inward a sufficient distance to releasetheir engagement with the disk 6.

Thus, it will be appreciated that during this action, the buttonportions 2 and the arms 4 are depressed in a direction towards the baseportion 5, ie towards a position in which they would become co-planarwith the base portion.

FIG. 1B shows one embodiment of a security device in the form of a flatstrip 7 which is slid beneath the arms 4, so as to be positioned in agap beneath the arms 4. The strip 7 thus prevents the arms 4 from beingdepressed. In view of the nature of the mechanism described above,pressure on the button-like member 3 will thus not release the disk 6,as in order for the projections 1 to be released from engagement withthe disk 6, it is essential that the arms 4 be depressed so theprojections 1 can move along an arc as described above.

It will be appreciated that the devices of the present invention requirethat connection between the button portions 2 and the respective arms 4not to be too flexible, otherwise there is a danger that the buttonportions 2 may inadvertently be tilted inwardly and thus release theengagement of the projections with the disk.

The strip 7 may take a variety of forms. Preferably it is formed of arelatively tough plastics material such as Nylon™, polypropylene orstyrene (the remainder of the device typically being formed ofpolyethylene or polypropylene) and has a thickness which enables it tobe slid under the arms 4 but which prevents any significant depressionof the arms 4 towards the base portion. In one embodiment, for instance,the strip may typically be about 1–3 mm thick. The strip should have alength sufficient to span the aperture in the base portion beneath thearms (this aperture being present to allow the arms to be formed in aone-shot injection molding process with the base portion) so that it issupported on the base portion on each side of the arms. Typically, thesecurity device has a length of at least 20 mm. If such a short deviceis used, a special tool may be required to slide it into place after adisk has been mounted on the disk engaging means (as, once the securitydevice is in place, it prevents the disk engaging means from receiving adisk). Alternatively, the security device can be slid in place via theaperture in the base portion beneath the arms.

The strip may have a greater length if it is to be connected toadditional security devices and/or if it one end of it is to beaccessible at a position beyond the periphery of the disk.

The strip may prevent the button portions or the arms from beingdepressed, or both. Instead of being a strip of plastic, the securitydevice may take other forms, e.g. a U-shaped piece of metal wire (notshown) of appropriate thickness, with one leg of the U-shape under onearm and the other under the other arm. A simple form of this version ofthe device can be formed from metal wire such as that used to make aconventional paper clip.

In addition to the disk engaging means illustrated herein as having twoarms, other versions of such disk engaging means may be fitted with thesecurity devices of the invention. For example, the security device maybe used with disk engaging means having just one arm or more than twoarms, e.g. three arms. In the latter case, the security devicepreferably has a shape which enables it to be slid beneath the armsthrough a space between adjacent arms and is preferably supported atthree points on the base portion, ie at points between each pair ofarms.

FIG. 1C shows a further security device 8 which fits in the gap betweenadjacent button portions 2. This form of the security device maycomprise a cap 8A which fits over the button-like member 3 with aprojection 8B on its underside shaped to fit into said gap. In thisregard, the projection 8B may have a straight or linear configuration ifit is to fit in the gap between two semi-circular button portions, or itmay have an S-shaped profile if it is to fit the gap between two buttonparts having Yin-yang shapes (as shown in WO97/41563, which is hereinincorporated by reference).

It will be appreciated from the description above of how the releasemechanism operates that when the button portions move about the arcsdescribed, they move radially inwards towards each other so that thebutton-like member 3 contracts and the gap between the button portionsreduces in width. The security device shown in FIG. 1C fits snuglywithin said gap along at least a portion of the length of said gap, andso prevents the button parts from moving towards each other; thisprevents the button-like member 3 from contracting when it is pressed.The projections cannot therefore move radially inwards to release theirengagement with the disk. The shape and dimensions of the securitydevice 8 may be varied depending on the corresponding shape anddimensions of the gap(s) between the button portions.

For example, such a device may be fitted to a button-like membercomprising a plurality of button parts, e.g. two or three. In thisrespect, it may be sufficient for the device to fit into a gap betweenjust one pair of button parts but preferably it will fit within the gapsbetween each pair of button parts.

In variations of this feature, each projection fitting into a gapbetween the button portions is preferably of a length such that theprojection extends well into the gap and is preferably longer than thedepth of each button portion. This extension beneath the button portionshelps prevent accidental disengagement of the security device, e.g.,when pressure is applied to the outside walls of the container.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the security device may be in the form of a hubinsert that comprises a vertical projection 8C, which extends downwardinto a space beneath the button-like member 3. This projection 8C may beshaped so as to allow easy insertion and a secure fit into the gapbetween button portions 2; in this respect the configuration of theprojection 8C is not limited. The projection 8C is furtherperpendicularly attached to a pull-tab 8D, which lies substantiallyco-planar with the disk 6 and the button-like member 3. The pull-tab 8Dmay be formed of a flexible material, and is thus instrumental forwithdrawing the projection 8C from the gap formed between the buttonportions 2.

As indicated above, the security device shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D may beused in addition to, the security device shown in FIG. 1B.

The device represented in FIG. 1C or 1D may be completely containedwithin the interior of a disk package, and does not require anyadditional processing steps on the part of store retail staff todisengage the device after the package has been sold.

It will be appreciated that the security device shown in FIG. 1Bprevents the button-like member 3 from being depressed, while that shownin FIGS. 1C and 1D prevents it from contracting. However, it will beappreciated that in each case, the mechanism prevents the buttonportions from pivoting downward (about axes located approximately wherethe arms join the base portion).

FIGS. 2A to 2C and 3A to 3C correspond to FIGS. 1A to 1C describedabove, but show slightly different forms of the releasable disk engagingmeans.

In FIG. 2 the arms 4 and the button portions 2 are of different shape tothose shown in FIG. 1 but their function is very similar.

In FIG. 3, the button portions 2 are mounted on arms 4 which arepivotally mounted at positions 9 to a raised area 10 of the base portion5 by torsion connections on each side thereof. These torsion connectionsmay comprise thin plastic connections between the arms 4 and the baseportion 5. Otherwise, the function of the security devices are similarto those described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1B. As shownin the Figure, the security device has a substantially rectangular shapewith a point at one end (or both ends) to facilitate location of thedevice beneath the arms.

The security devices described above help secure the disk to the diskengaging means. These security devices may operate independently ofclosure of the container in which the disk engaging means is housed. Insuch a case, the container may be opened without compromising thesecurity of the connection between the disk and the disk-engagingmember. In such situations, the wrapper conventionally provided aroundthe container may also be omitted.

FIG. 5 shows another form of security device. As mentioned above, withsome types of container it is possible to actuate the unprotectedbutton-like member from outside the container by pressing a wall of thecontainer lying over the button-like member. In most instances, thepackage wall is relatively flexible, and it can therefore be deflectedenough to press against the button-like member. This effect can beprevented if a security device such as that shown in FIG. 5 is fittedabout the button-like member before the container is closed. Thissecurity device comprises a substantially planar plate 11 with anaperture 11A therein as shown in FIG. 5B), the aperture being shaped tofit over the button-like member so the plate is fitted around thebutton-like member (as shown in FIG. 5A), the plate having a thicknesssimilar to that of the button-like member. If the wall of the containeris now pressed towards the button-like member, the security deviceprevents sufficient pressure being applied to the button-like member torelease the disk. This is due to the fact that pressure applied to thewall of the container is applied to the security device and thus to thedisk (in a similar manner to the pressure applied to the disk when it isinstalled on the disk engaging means). Another way of viewing this isthat the security device maintains the part of the wall over thebutton-like member relatively flat so the wall cannot be deflected tothe shape required to press and actuate the button-like member.

The security device shown in FIG. 5 typically has a thickness of 1 to 2mm and a width of around 3 to 10 mm. The plate may be rectangular asshown, circular, or of some other shape.

The security devices described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 serve tosecure the disk to the disk engaging means. In a preferred arrangement,a security tag of the type currently used to trigger an alarm if aproduct is removed from a store without the tag being renderedinoperative or removed may be positioned between the disk and a wall ofthe container so that the tag can only be removed once the disk has beenreleased and removed.

As an additional feature, the security devices disclosed herein may beprinted with text or graphic material according to any suitabletechnique known in the art. In this respect, the device may carryadvertising, product information or cautionary messages, or may be ofdifferent colours or colour-coded to permit ready association withcertain product classifications.

The security devices described above have the advantages of being simpleand having little, if any, undesirable impact on the aesthetics of thecontainer.

Several different embodiments of the security device are describedabove. It is believed that the present invention includes many otherembodiments that may not be herein described in detail, but wouldnonetheless be appreciated by those skilled in the art from thedisclosures made. Accordingly, this disclosure should not be read asbeing limited only to the foregoing examples or only to the designatedpreferred embodiments.

1. Apparatus for holding a disk-shaped data carrier having a centralaperture, the apparatus comprising: a base portion; disk engaging meansfor releasably engaging the central aperture of a disk-shaped datacarrier, the disk engaging means having retaining means for engaging andretaining the disk-shaped data carrier on the apparatus; release meansfor releasing the engagement of the retaining means with the disk-shapeddata carrier so the disk-shaped data carrier can be removed from theapparatus; and a removable security device installed by sliding thesecurity device along the base portion between at least the releasemeans and the base portion so its location therebetween inhibitsactuation of the release means and thereby prevents release of thedisk-shaped data carrier from the retaining means.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, in which the release means comprises a button-like member thatcontracts when pressed, and the security device comprises a securitymember that prevents contraction of the button-like member.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, in which the button-like member comprises aplurality of button portions with at least one gap therebetween, and thesecurity member fits within the said at least one gap.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, in which the release means comprises a button-like memberthat depresses when pressed, and the security device comprises asecurity member which prevents depression of the button-like member. 5.The apparatus of claim 4, in which the security member fits between thebutton-like member and the base portion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, inwhich the security means comprising a strip for fitting between thebutton-like member and the base portion.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, inwhich the release means comprises a button-like member, at least part ofwhich pivots when pressed, and the security device comprises a securitymember that prevents pivoting of the button-like member.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the security means is printed with text orgraphic material, or is coloured.
 9. A package for containing or storinga disk-shaped data carrier comprising a holder having a base portion,disk engaging device on the base for releasably engaging the disk-shapeddata carrier; and a security device that is removably engageable withthe disk engaging device by sliding along the base portion between thedisk engaging device and the base portion so as to inhibit actuation ofthe disk engaging device.
 10. The package of claim 9, wherein the diskengaging device comprises a button-like member that contracts whenpressed, and the security device comprises a security member thatprevents contraction of the button-like member.
 11. The package of claim9, in which the disk engaging device comprises a button-like memberwhich depresses when pressed, and the security device comprises asecurity member that prevents depression of the button-like member.